Tafileh university students could face expulsion over ‘chaotic celebration’

AMMAN — Eleven students from the Tafileh Technical University, eight of whom are currently in their last semesters, found out last week that they could be expelled for celebrating their own and their colleagues’ graduation projects, a student said Monday.

Jaser Harasees, an activist at the university, said students found out about the decision last Wednesday, when they tried to access their online university accounts.

Harasees also claimed that campus security used force to stop the celebrations.

 “The university president, Shtaywy Abdalla, had issued an announcement banning all kinds of celebrations after the presentation of graduation projects,” Harasees told The Jordan Times, “but we hadn’t had a graduation ceremony in three years — we wanted to celebrate.”

Fawwaz Abed Alhaq, the university’s vice president, said “a misunderstanding” happened between students and campus security last week during the celebrations.

“We will check the surveillance camera footage to see who created the chaos that day. The investigation is ongoing, but hopefully, nothing will happen to the students who are in their last semester,” the vice president added. 

He noted students were celebrating despite several announcements banning celebratory gatherings after graduation seminars, adding that the restriction on such festivities are aimed at preventing clashes between students and residents of nearby areas. 

The celebrations, Abed Alhaq noted, are chaotic and many students complain about them.

“This behaviour does not befit university students — creating chaos and disrupting classes,” he told The Jordan Times. 

On Sunday, the students who were notified online of their expulsion protested in front of the presidency building to urge the administration to reverse its decision, Harasees said. 

The administration, he added, promised to reconsider the decision this week.